Machine for mercerizing



No. 6l7,56l. Patented 11". m, i899. H. w. BUTTERWORTH.

MACHINE FOR MERCERIZIN'G.

(Application filed Aug. 25, 1897.)

(No Model.) .3 Sheets-Sheet l.

FIG.|

Inventor.

Attorney.

m: mums PETERS cu. Pnoroumo WASNIMZTDN, n. o.

No. 617,56l. Patented lan. l0, I899.

H. W. BUTTERWURTH.

MACHINE FUR MERCEBIZING.

(Application filed Aux. 25, 1897.)

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

21 IEWZIIEQIE 31 Witnesses' mm Jan. I0, 1899.

H. W. BUTTERWDRTH.

MACHINE FOR MERCERIZING. (Application filed Aug. 25, 189?.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

f FIG. 3 i

a w F|G.4- 0) il Ki; fig 1g is) 2 FIG? li 3 HN FIG.5 3 i F|G.6 L. 1 HJZE M K Witnesses. Inventor.

Attorney.

m: Noam: PETERS cu. moroumnv, WASHINGTON n cy UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY IV. BUTTERWORTH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE H.NV. BUTTERWORTH dz SONS COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MERCERIZING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,561, dated January10, 1899.

Application filed August 25, 1897. Serial No. 649,431. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY W. BUTTER- WORTH, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inMercerizing-h/Iachines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention-has reference to mercerizingmachines; and it consists ofcertain improvements, which are fully set forth in the followingspecification and shown in the accompa: nying drawings, which form. apar-t thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable construction ofapparatus which shall properly stretch and hold the web of cloth againstshrinkage or contraction while subjecting it to the action of a strongalkali, such as caustic soda, whereby the contractile effort under theaction of the alkali shall exert itself upon the fibers of the material,rather than upon the fabric stretched as a whole, and produce therebycertain rearrangements and characteristics of the fiber, which shallinduce a silky appearance.

My object is more particularly to provide a construction of machinewhich shall positively and quickly handle the fabric during the saidprocess, whereby accuracy of results and economy are secured.

In carrying out my invention I employ endless chains or conveyorsprovided with pins or clamps to hold the lateral edges of the textilefabric, and said conveyers are passed over suitable guide-wheels, whichconvey the fabric into a bath of caustic soda and then into awashing-bath with or without an intermediate acid-bath. My constructionis such that the power is applied to the chains con stituting theconveyers at the place'thereof adjacent to where the fabric leaves thechains, so that the tension under which the conveyers and the fabric areput is exerted through.- out the entire length of'the fabric undertreatment, thus insuring a very positive and sure manner of the fabricpassing through the machine and the several baths therein, so that thereis no danger whatever of any backward creeping or shrinking. Ifurthermore provide a suitable feed whereby a variable degree offriction may be placed upon the fabric as it is drawn into the machineto prevent .same on lines 2 2.

any looseness thereon. Furthermore, my improvements comprehend suitableadjusting devices whereby the guides for the conveyer-chains may berelatively adjusted to or from each other to suit different widths of 55 fabric to be supplied to the mercerizing-baths,

' thereby enabling the machine to be suited to almost any fabric whichmight be required to be treated.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in Which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation on lines 1 1 ofFig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 3 is across-section of Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one form ofconveyor-chain. Fig. 5 is a plan View of a pair of such chains. Fig. 6is a cross-section of a modified form of conveyerchain employing clampsin lieu of the pins, and Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the conveyorchainshown in Fig. at.

A is the main frame of the machine and may be of any suitableconstruction.

. B, O, and D are three baths or tanks built into the machine andarranged adjacent to each other. The bath B is designed to contain astrong alkali, such as caustic soda. The bath 0 is designed to contain aweak acid solution, such as a solution of dilute sulfuric 8o acid, andthe bath D is designed to contain water for washing the mercerizedfabric.

E are a series of guide-wheels arranged within and near the bottom ofeach-of the several baths B, O, and D and are supported by suitableframes I. F are a series of similar guide-wheels arranged at the upperpart of the machine and considerably above the tanks or vats B O D. Thesaid guide-wheels F are supported upon transverse shafts H H, journaledon or supported on the mainframe A. The said wheels are each providedwith grooved hubs f and are preferably connected by means of feathers h,so as to rotate with the shafts H H, the said feathers working in 5suitable grooves in the hubs of the wheels F. This insures both wheelsof any shaft rotating at the same surface speeds.

I are a series of frames arranged, respectively, above the vats or tanksB O D and so I00 that their lower ends extend down into the tanks forconnection with the guide-wheels E to support them and firmly hold themat a fixed distance from the wheels F. The upper part of the frame I isprovided with trolleywheels Z, which are guided upon transverse rails L,bolted to the main frame. Each of the frames I is provided with one ormore lateral extensions I, having curved members to receive the groove fof the wheels F, so that when said frames I are moved toward or fromeach other over a common rail L the said wheels F are simultaneouslymoved to or from each other to correspond to the different widths of thegoods to be treated and the tension under which the fabric is to besubjected laterally. These frames I and the wheels F E moved thereby areadjusted by means of a shaft K, having right and left hand screwthreadsthereon meshing with the frames I I in pairs. The shaft K is journaledin the main frame so as to have a fixed location relative thereto forthe purpose of insuring the frames I I moving to or from each other, andthereby keep all of the parts centralized or in proper alinement. Byemploying the trolleywheels Z and the transverse rail L no strain due tothe weight of the frames I is put upon the shafts J, and likewise thereis little or no wear upon the shafts II II. Furthermore, the frame I maybe made very strong, so as to positively restrict the great shrinkingaction of the fabric under treatment with the caustic soda. The fabricmay be put under any de sired lateral tension in any bath by simplyadjusting the frames I I corresponding to said bath by its screw K. Theendless conveyerchains G pass over an upper wheel F, then down under awheel E, thence up over the next wheel F, and so on, in such manner thatthey form loops in the successive baths B O D and are adapted to conveythe fabric first into the bath B, thence into the bath 0, and finallyinto the bath D. To prevent swinging of the chains, suitable guides Jare secured to the frames I intermediate of the wheels F and E toproperly guide the fabric. The rearmost shaft II is driven by means ofpowergearingM or in any other suitable manner, for at this place thepower is transmitted to the conveyerchains. The wheels F, correspondingto the shaft. II, may, if desired, be sprocket-wheelsthat is, providedwith teeth working in the chains to positively move them in the mannerof gears rather than by frictional contact. The guide-rollers P act asguides to return the chains to the feed end of the machine. A roller Sis provided, about which the mercerized fabric is drawn in removing itfrom the pins or clamps of the conveyerchains immediately after leavingthe guidewheels on the shaft 11. WVater-pipes d cl are provided forforcing water upon the fabric while passing through the vat D for thepurpose of thoroughly washing it in connection with the washing actionof the body of water in the vat itself. A suitable overflow (not shown)from the tank D may be employed to permit the waste water to freely passoff after acting upon the fabric.

N N are a pair of guides which are pivoted at one end near the wheels Fupon vertical pivots n on the frames I, so that the distance apart ofthis end of the guides corresponds exactly with the distance apart ofthe wheels F on the same shaft II. The other ends of the guides N aremade adjustable and are moved to or from each other by means of a rightand left hand screw-shaft carriedin the main frame andadapted to beoperated by hand. By this means the conveyer-chains may be broughtsufficiently close together at the start to easily receive the fabricand then be fed gradually apart until they put the said fabric undergreat tension.

P are the feeding guide-wheels for the enclless conveyer-chains G andmay be supported upon a shaft P, but so as to be adjustable laterallythereon by extensions on the ends of the guides N substantially of thesame character as the parts I of the frames I, working in connectionwith said wheels P to locate them upon the shaft P. In this manner thewheels P correspond in location to the ends of the guides, so that thechains passing about them will be properly delivered to the guides. Theshaft P, carrying the guidewheels P, is journaled in boxes P movable inguides A on the main frame, and these boxes are connected by links P"with heavy counterweighted levers P In this manner any desired degree oftension may be put on the chains or conveyers, so as to prevent any lostmotion between the links and at the same time provide a means which willgive more or less in case of necessity. It is evident that any othersuitable form of tension device may be used in lieu of that shown.

Q Q are two tension-cylinders and are secured to frames R, which are journaled in the main frame on an axis intermediate of the cylinders K K.The frames B may be adj usted by means of a worm-wheel T andhandoperated worm 25 to change the relative positions of the cylinders QQ about the axis of said frames R. The fabric to be treated passesupward and over the first cylinder Q, then under the second cylinder Q,thence upward to the conveyer-chains adjacent to the wheels P. Bychanging the relative position of the cylinders Q Q greater or lessfriction may be put upon the fabric, so that objectionable looseness maybe readily obviated. Any other suitable form of tension device may beemployed in lieu of that shown.

By my improved construction it will be observed that the links composingthe conveyerchains will be subjected to tensile strain, and therebyovercome any looseness which might be due to the wearing of the chainsbetween the links. As the entire chains between the point P and powerdevices M are under strain,

it is evident that the fabric will remain under a continuous andpositive tension. Furthermore, it will be evident that by employingchains to convey the fabric through the machine each port-ion of thefabric between the several links is made to act as a separate element,and consequently any tendency to extend or elongate at one place doesnot interfere or affect the operation of the apparatus upon the fabricat any other place. Thus, for instance, if there were any tendency ofthe fabric to elongate during the treatment in the baths 0 and D, saidtendency would not relieve the tension under which the fabric would besubjected in passingthrough the caustic-soda bath B. It is thereforeseen that only a single power device is necessary to insure the properaction upon the fabric atseveral points in passing through the ma-.chines.

By having the separate adjusting screwshafts J enables me to increasethe lateral stretching action in any bath irrespective of thecorresponding tension in the other baths. This will secure the desireddegree of tension on the fabric without elongating tension other thanthat due to the shrinkage.

It is observed that in my improved machine the fabric is first deliveredto the conveyer-chains and never released until the operation iscompleted, thus obviating any handling of the fabric in the wet orintermediate operations. Furthermore, the tension under which the fabricmay be put during the proccess of mercerizing is uniform, and therebysecures a desirable product. It will also be observed that as the widthof the fabric is maintained no matter how strong the shrinking actionthe commercial value as to width of the fabric is not decreased by thetreatment.

While I have shown the acid-bath C interposed between the caustic-sodabath B and the washing-bath D, I do not necessarily confine myself tothe employment of the said bath 0 for acid, as it might be employed as asecond caustic-soda bath or as an additional washing-bath, suchconditions not altering the general principle of construction andoperation of my machine.

While I prefer the construction shown, I do not limit myself to theminor details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a memorizing-machine, the combination of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guidewheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave the several vats, and power devices acting upon theconveyers after leaving the several vats for moving them and the fabricsupported by them.

2. In a mercerizing-machine, the combination of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guidewheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave-the several vats, feeding'guides for the conveyerspivoted at one end and adapted to be adjusted to or from each other atthe other end so as to cause said conveyers to move farther apart asthey approach the guide-wheels and in which the said guides areinterposed between the feeding devices and the aforesaid guide-wheels,and power devices acting upon the conveyers after leaving the severalvats for moving them with the fabric supported by them.

3. In a mercerizing-machine, the combination of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guide wheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave the several vats, means for adjusting the upper andlower guide-wheels in pairs relatively to or from each other to suitfabrics of difierent width and vary the tension, and power devicesacting upon the conveyers after leaving the mercerizing-vat for movingthem with the fabric supported by them.

4.. In a memorizing-machine, the combination of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guidewheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable'guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave the several vats, means for adj usting the upper andlower guide-wheels in pairs relatively to or from each other to suitfabrics of different width and to vary the tension, transverse rails,supporting means carried thereby for sustaining the adjusting devices,and power devices acting upon the conveyers after leaving themercerizing-vat for moving them with the fabric supported by them.

IIO

5. In a mercerizing-machine, the combination of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guidewheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave the several vats, supporting trans verse shafts abovethe vats for the several guide-wheels upon which they are arranged inpairs, frames for moving upper and lower guide-wheels in pairssimultaneously to or from a further set of upper and lower guidewheelsin pairs, and adjusting-screws for directly operating upon the saidadjustingframes in pairs there being one screw and .pair ofadjusting-frames to each vat, and

power devices acting upon the conveyers after leaving themercerizing-vat for moving them with the fabric supported by them.

6. In a mercerizing-machine, the combination of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guidewheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to'theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave the several vats, spraying nozzles or pipes arrangedwithin the upper part of the rearmost vat for directing streams of waterupon the fabric held in the conveyers while passing through said vats,and power devices acting upon the conveyers after leaving the severalvats for moving them with the fabric supported by them.

7. In a mercerizing-machine, the combina tion of two or more vats, aseries of guidewheels within the vats, a series of guidewheels at adistance above the vats, continuous conveyers passing over the wheelsabove the vats and under the wheels in the vats, suitable guides forsaid conveyers outside of the vats, means to guide the fabric to theconveyers before passing to the aforesaid wheels about which theconveyers are guided, means to deliver the fabric from the conveyersafter they leave the several vats, vertical adj usting-frames forsimultaneously moving an upper and lower guide-wheel corresponding to avat to or from a similar pair of upper and lower guide-wheelscorresponding to the same vat, hand devices for adjusting the frames toor from each other, feed-guides for the conveyers respectively pivotedto the guideframes so as to be moved simultaneously with saidguide-frames, adjusting devices for adjusting the other ends of saidfeed-guides to or from each other and adjacent to the feeding devices,and power devices acting upon the conveyers after leaving themercerizingvats for moving them with the fabric supported by them.

8. In a machine for subjecting a fabric to the action of a liquid bath,the combination of a vat, a pair of endless conveyer-chains,

a transverse guide arranged above the vat,

two depending frames having their weight sustained by and relativelyadjustable upon the said guide, guide-wheels journaled above the vat forguiding the conveyers, guidewheels within the vat for guiding theconveyers, connections between the guide-wheels and the dependingframes, and adjusting devices for moving the two frames with theirguide-wheels relatively to and from each other.

9. In a machine for subjecting a fabric to the action of a liquid bath,the combination of a vat, a pair of endless conveyer-chains, atransverse guide arranged above the vat, two depending frames havingtheir weight sustained by and relatively adjustable upon the said guide,guide-wheels journaled above the vat for guiding the conveyers,guidewheels within the vat for guiding the conveyers, connectionsbetween the guide-wheels and the depending frames, connecting devicesbetween said wheels above the vat to make them rotate at the same speed,and adjusting devices for moving the two frames with their guide-wheelsrelatively to and from each other.

10. In a machine for subjecting a fabric to the action of a liquid bath,the combination of a vat, a pair of endless conveyer-chains, atransverse guide arranged above the vat, two depending frames havingtheir weight sustained by and relatively adjustable upon the said guide,guide-wheels journaled above the vat for guiding the conveyers,guidewheels within the vat for guiding the conveyers, connectionsbetween the guide-wheels and the depending frames, connecting devicesbetween said wheels above the vat to make them rotate at the same speed,upright stationary guides between the guide-wheels above and in the vatcarried by the two depending frames, and adjusting devices for movingthe two frames with their guidewheels and upright guides, relatively toand from each other. i

11. In a machine for subjecting a fabric to the action of a liquid bath,the combination of a vat, a pair of endless conveyor-chains, atransverse guide arranged above the vat, two depending frames havingtheir weight sustained by and relatively adjustable upon the said guide,guide-wheels journaled above the vat for guiding the conveyers,guidewheels within the vat for guiding the conveyers, connectionsbetween the guide-wheels and the depending frames, a pair of uprightguides upon each of the depending frames arranged tangentially to thecircumference of the guide-wheel within the Vat and extending to or nearthe guide-wheels above the vat, a second pair of upright guides alsocarried by the depending frames and extending from the opposite side ofthe guide- Wheels in the vat upwardly to one side of the guide-Wheelsabove the Vat,adjusting devices for moving the two frames with theirguide wheels and upright guides relatively to and I from each other,guide-Wheels arranged above the vat above the last-mentioned pair ofupright guides, and means to adjust the said guide-wheels in alinementwith the upright guides.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto 15 set my hand.

HARRY W. BUTTERWORTH.

Witnesses: J. W. KENWORTHY, WM. L. EVANS.

